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Thursday, November 7, 2013

Dappled Leaves

We all have a skein (or 12) of amazingly gorgeous, highly variegated yarn that we couldn't live without. If you're at all like me, it's destiny is to become a sock or, even more likely, to decorate your home as the piece of art that it is.

I purchased this skein of Permission Tree Farm Piggy Toes SW at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival a couple years ago. I bought it because the colors reminded me of the awe inspiring autumn foliage from my trip to Rhinebeck with my girls a few years before. I had to have it, but I didn't know what to do with it. I wanted it to be more than socks, so it waited and waited.

Finally, I had a little spark of an idea and wound it up. I cast on for a nice wide piece with larger needles and began knitting in a broken brioche-type stitch. It's reversible, thick, and fluffy, but so light and squishy.

The knitting was mostly of the mindless tv variety. I kept going until almost the end of the skein and then seamed the ends together to make a long cowl, but it looks great as a scarf as well.

Almost any weight of yarn, combined with needles 3-4 sizes larger than the ball band recommends will give you a lovely fabric. I think it's the perfect use for that special skein of sock yarn. And it's quick enough for gift knitting. I've included it in the Indie Design Gift-A-Long. It will be 25% through 11/15/2013 GMT with the code "giftalong".